“I know Emma Raducanu will be a world-beater, I see the potential” says the former coach of Andre Agassi and Monica Seles
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Emma Raducanu and Nick Bollettieri
Emma Raducanu has captured the attention of the entire world with her historic win at the 2021 US Open where she started the tournament as a qualifier ranked World No. 150 and ended the tournament with the rank of World No. 23 as she became the first qualifier in the history of tennis to win a major after starting out as a qualifier.
Emma’s title ended Britain’s 44-years wait for a female Grand Slam winner since Virginia Wade won the 1977 Wimbledon Championships. Emma won the Slam without dropping a single set in the 10 matches she played at the tournament in New York.
Speaking about Emma’s feat, Nick Bollettieri, former coach of former World No. 1 and tennis legends like Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Jim Courier and Maria Sharapova, heaped praise on the 18-year old Brit who has turned a global star in a matter of 3 weeks.
“Suffice to say I know what it takes to become a serial Slam champion, and what magical blend is needed of raw talent, work ethic, physical ability, mental toughness, application and unquenchable desire to do better. Even when you’re already the best. Britain’s smiling meteor, Emma Raducanu, won the US Open this month at a canter, but can I pronounce her an all-time great in the making? Holy mackerel, no! Sport is so much more complex,” said Nick.
“I was as shocked as the next observer that Emma Raducanu took that title with what seemed like supreme ease” says Nick
While Emma did give a glimpse of her talent at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships where she made her Grand Slam and WTA debut, with a change in surface and only 2 tournaments between the Slams in Wimbledon and New York, not many expected
“I was as shocked as the next observer that Emma took that title with what seemed like supreme ease, not dropping a set as she became the first person in Slam history to win as a qualifier. Emma’s mental control throughout her unprecedented feat was marvellous. She didn’t crack. She smiled and prevailed. Her versatility was notable. Emma does all the basics well, but eye-catching was her remarkable footwork.
“That’s the bedrock for everything else. Roger Federer has sublime talent and shots but the bedrock is in the footwork. Watch it, but you’ll need slo-mo. Raducanu’s next tournament, and next Slam, will be telling. We’ll see how she copes with fame and having done something nobody has ever done before, and expectations she’ll keep doing it.
“I can’t tell you with any honesty I know she’ll be a world-beater. I see the potential, and all sorts of positives, and I hope she continues to soar. But go easy, and let her breathe. Let her find her way. Never be satisfied. Do more. When you’re satisfied is when people take you down. Keep aspiring to do things that people say cannot be done,” concluded Nick Bollettieri.
With many legends talking about how Emma needs her independence and be relaxed for her next tournaments, the fans will nevertheless hope that Emma achieves great success.
Also Read: Emma Raducanu ‘really grateful’ towards Jurgen Klopp for calling her the ‘talent of the century’
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)